Axle-box-wedge mechanism



April 5 1927.

R. c. SHIPLEY ET AL AXLE BOX WEDGE MECHANISM Fild QCt. 27. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April v5,1927. 1,623,640

R. C. SHIPLEY ET A; I

AXLE BOX WEDGE MECHANISM Filed Oct. 27. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (NVENTORS ZZZ ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 5, 1927.

UNITED. STATES 1,623,640 PATENT OFFICE.

,f iicnlmnc. SHIPLEYAND JAMES R. euros, or'KANsAs CITY, MISSOURI- f AxLs-Box-wEnGnMECHANISM.

Application filed October 27, 1926. Serial No. 144,491.

Our invention relates to improvements in axle boxwedge mechanisms. It is particularly well adapted for use in connection with the wedges used for holding thedriving axle boxes of locomotives.

One of the objectsof ourinvention is to provide anovel wedge mechanism of the kind described, which is simple, cheap strong, durable, not liable to get out of order, which will automatlcally keep the wedge tight between the box and frame,

which is so disposed as to alford a firm.

rigid support for the usual wedge, which is also disposed so as to be wholly above the binder plate, thereby eliminating liability of striking objects and being injured thereby, and which is readilyadapted to be applied to axle box mechanisms now inuse.

- Thenovel features of our lnventlon are hereinafter fully describedand claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, which 11- lustrate my invention,

Fig. 1 is aside elevation of my improved axlebox mechanism, shown applied to the axle box structure of a locomotive.

Fig. 2is' asection on the line 22 of Fig. 1.;

Fig. 3

- Fig. 4. r a I Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional View through is a section on the line .33 of H a portion of the frame and axle box.

Fig. 5 is a perspective of lower wedge. v

' Fig. 6' is a perspective of a portion of the binder plate.

Fig. 7 is a perspective of the lower portion of the upper Wedge.

Fig.8 is a horizontal sectional view showing a modified form of the spring mechanism.

- Fig.

my improved 9 is a vertical Section through the lower part of the upper wedge.

1 Similar reference characters designate similar parts in the different V1QWS.

l designates the body of the trame, having the pedestal 2 and the binder plate 3.

i 4t designates the usual axle box mounted in the vframe, and 5thefnsnaltype of wedge upwardly movablebetween the pedestal 2,

and the box t over the binder plate 3, so as to tighten between the frame and box for firmly holding the box.

- In order to always keep the wedge 5 in atightened wedging position, we provide a member comprising a lower wedge 6, Fig. 5, the upper portion of which is T- shaped and is slidably fitted in a similarly shaped inclined groove 7 in the lower end of the upper wedge 5, Figs. 7 and 9.

The wedge 6 in itsilower portion is of an inverted T shape in cross section, which.

gage the box 4 and pedestalfl, thus com pensating for wear of the parts. In order that such movement in said direction shall be effected automatically, we provide mechanism including a spring, which mechanism, in the preferred form shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 8, the spring consists of two partially elliptical resilient plates 11 lying one on the other and mounted on the outer ends of two collar-s12 and 13 respectively bearing against the binderplate-3 and the pedestal 2.

The ends of the spring plates 11 are'respectively provided with notches 14 through which respectively extends bolts 15, which extend respectively through the collars 12 and 13, and are fittedin threaded holes provided in the binder plate 3"and the pedestal 2. l

The lower Wedge 6 has a centrals'tem 16 which extendshorizontally through {and is slidable in central holes provided therefor in the plates 11. The stem 16 is threaded and has fitted on. it a nut 17 which bears against the outer spring plate 11. The tension ofthe plates 11 is such that the plates always exert a pressure tending to draw the wedge 6 inwardly in the grooves 7 and 8,

thereby lifting the wedge 5 until the latter 7 is tightened between the box 4 and pedestal 2. A. lock nut 18 on the stem 7 bears against the nut 17.

By having the wedge 6 mounted so as to move horizontally transversely to the length of the binder plate 3, the lower wedge 6 provides a rigid support for the upper wedge 5, and the spring mechanism can be disposed wholly above the lower side of the binder plate 3, so that such mechanism is v the binder plate 3, also permitsof the use of the usualbinder plate 3 and box wedge 5 with the latter located wholly above the binder plate.

By adjusting the nuts 17 and ;18, the

spring plates 11 may be given desired tension. As the box ,4, pedestal 2 or wedge 5 wears, the springplates 11 will draw the wedge 6 so as to raise the wedge 5 to compensate for the wear and to hold the wedge otightly against the box and. pedestal.

Thecdevice may be adapted to structures now in use by providing the grooves 7 and 8 in the wedge 5 and binder plate 3, and by providing threaded holes in the, binder plate ,3 and pedestal 2 for the bolts 15, and mounting the parts in the manner described.

,Inthe form of our invention shown in Fig. 8, the partsare as already described, with theexception that in lieu of the spring plates 11, a coil spring 20 encircles the stem 16 and bears at one end against a collar 19, which bears against the nut 17, the other end of the spring 20 hearing against a collar 21 on the stem 16 and bearing against a bracket 22 held by the bolts against thebinder plate 3 and the pedestal 2. The sprin operates in the manner of the spring plates 11 to draw the lower wedge 6 so as to lift the wedge 5.

2 We do not limit our invention to the structures shown and described, as many modifications, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made without departing from the spirit of our invention.

What we claim is 1. In an axle box wedge mechanism, the combination with a frame, an axle box thereon, and a vertically movable wedge engaging the, frame and box, of a second wedge horizontally movable on the frame transversely to the length'of the frame and engaging the first named wedge and arranged, when moved in one direction, to move the first named wedge to tighten the latter between the box and frame.

2.. In an axle box wedge mechanism, the combination with a frame having a horizontal groove transverse of the length of the frame, an axle box on said frame, and a vertically movable wedge engaging said frame and box, of a second wedge longitudinally reciprocative in said groove, and having an inclined upper side engaging the lower end of the first named wedge.

3. In an axle box wedge mechanism, the

tically movable wedgeengaging said frame and box and arranged when moved upwardly to tighten between the box and frame, or a second wedge longitudinally reciprocative in said groove and having an inclined upper side directly engaging the lower end of said first named wedge, and means including a spring for normally automatically .forcing the second wedge in said groove in a direction such that the second wedge will lift the first named wedge.

I. In an axle box wedge mechanism, the combination with a frame comprising a body and a binder plate fastened to the body, an axle box on said frame, and a vertically movable wedge engagingthe body and box above saidbinder plate, of a second wedge horizontally movable on said bindenplate transversely of the length thereof andhaving an inclined upper side engaging the lower end of the first named wedge and arranged, when moved in one direction, to liftthe first named wedge to tighten the latter beween the body and box.

5. In an axle box wedge mechanism of the kind described, the combination with a frame having a horizontalgroove transverse of the length of the frame, an axle box on said frame, and a wedge engaging the box and frame and vertically movable between the frame and box, and when moved upwardly serving to tighten between the box and frame and having a transverse inclined groove parallel with the first named groove, of a second wedge slidable in said grooves, and means for sliding thesecond wedge to lift the first named wedge.

6. In an axle box wedge mechanism, the combination with a frame having a binder plate provided in its upper side with a horizontal groove transverse to the length of the binder plate, an axle box on said frame, and a wedge upwardly movable between said box and frame above said binder plate and engaging said box and frame and having in it an inclined groove parallel with the first named groove, of a second wedge slidably fitted in said grooves for lifting the first named wedge when the second wedge is moved in one direction, and means including aspring for sliding the second wedge in said direction.

I In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

RICHARD C. SHIPLEY. JAMES R. QUIGG. 

